Earlier, 23XI Racing driver Kurt Busch dropped a surprising development, a development that surely forced a tear or two in every NASCAR fan.  Busch announced that he was stepping away from full-time racing. The 2004 Cup Series champion has been out of action for a long time, as he recovers from a concussion. Now, the veteran driver appears to be slowly easing back on his career and maybe preparing for retirement.

Recently, he penned a beautiful statement, announcing his decision. He said, “This NASCAR village is my home and I love it here. 28 years ago, I stood in this area of the desert and took a glamour shot with my first race car. Which I built with my dad and my family. Racing is all I have ever known. My passion, work ethic and persistence have helped me reach all the dreams that a kid could dream. There is not one reason why, or one person, or one circumstance, that has made a stronger difference than another. It has taken everything and everyone. With that said, I know I’m not 100% in my ability to go out and race at the top level in the NASCAR Cup Series. These are the best of the best drivers, and lately, I haven’t felt my best.”

READ MORE: Dale Earnhardt Jr Exposes the “Sucky Part” of Crunch NASCAR Meeting After Alex Bowman & Kurt Busch’s Concussion

What else did Kurt Busch say and how did the fans react?

According to him, the doctors felt that it was in his best interest to ‘shut it down’ for the rest of the season. In spite of the fact that he has been steadily improving, he is still not up to full capacity. As a result, he has taken the difficult decision to step away from full-time NASCAR racing in 2023. In other words, he is not confident enough to compete in the championship.

Naturally, many fans were devastated at the news. They all said that he will be sorely missed in the community and congratulated him for his long and successful career. They were all thrilled that he was the first to deliver a NASCAR Cup Series title to the city of Las Vegas. In many people’s minds, he left an indelible mark on the sport.

On the other end of the scale, there were plenty of people who were mad at the NASCAR Next Gen car. According to them, the lax attitude toward driver safety has forced his full-time retirement. One thing is for sure, they will now be pushing the drivers to demand for more thought towards driver safety. This is imperative on the back of injuries to Alex Bowman and Cody Ware as well.

WATCH THIS STORY: From Chase Elliott To Kurt Busch: 5 Times The Next-Gen Cup Series Car Proved How Unsafe It Is